THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

a. David, as a shepherd, loved his flock. He cared for them. He protected them. He knew his flock has nothing to worry or fear about as long as they were under his protection. God noticed this.

Acts 13:22
After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'

But God allowed David to face danger. To see how he would react. David reacted with faith and boldness - killing a lion and a bear. Later he slew Goliath, who for 40 days had tormented the entire army of Israel. Remember, David was only a "shepherd boy". His trust and confidence in God was like a mountain. Firm, unshakeable and towering.

b. David longed to dwell in the house of God (Ps 27:4, Ps 61:4, Ps 84:10). Do you think about the room that Jesus is preparing for you (John chapter 14)?

Psalm 27:4
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 61:4
I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah

Psalm 84:10
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

Question: We all want goodness and love to follow us. We all want to go to heaven. But are we prepared to face the tests that God puts us through? e.g. Getting fired from a job! Someone else gets promoted! Someone close to you gets cancer! You get mistreated and slandered! A Goliath (difficult challenge) comes into your life! How do you react?

These situations can allow our faith to grow or diminish. If we react in a worldly manner, we lose the opportunity to pass God's tests. No one said the Christian life is going to be easy. You are going to be hurt by the world, hurt in the church and hurt by your brother and sister…just like Jesus was. Do you react in the same manner as your Lord?..where you put your trust in God.

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

In all things - this means good or bad.

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

What gifts has God given you?

Before glory, comes pain. Before exaltation comes humility. Before maturity comes perseverance. Before getting blessings and love, we sometimes have to experience curses and rejection. David went through some extraordinary difficulties before becoming King. Even after becoming King he faced challenges. But in all these situations, he allowed himself to be led by God. He repented when he did wrong. He praised God when he got victory over his enemies. You want goodness and love to follow you? Good. Be prepared for pain and suffering first.

- David was anointed to be king over Israel ( as a boy, maybe 15 years old) but then what did he do? He did not become King right away. He went back to being a shepherd. It took many, many years before he was crowned King.

2 Samuel 5:3
When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.

Almost 15 years, if not more! Can you imagine David sitting there with the flock at evening contemplating the goodness and greatness of God. Why me Lord? Wondering about his anointing by Samuel. Why were his elder brothers not chosen? He was the youngest of them all…..chosen to be the next King of Israel. How will it happen? When will it happen? Saul did not die right away. David had to wait. In fact, Saul wanted to kill David so David had to flee.

1 Samuel 19:11-12
11 Saul sent men to David's house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, warned him, "If you don't run for your life tonight, tomorrow you'll be killed."

12 So Michal let David down through a window, and he fled and escaped.

Later on, when David had a chance to kill King Saul, he did not…...he trusted that God would give him the kingship according to his timing.

1 Samuel 24:6-10
6 He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD."
7 With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.
9 He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is bent on harming you'?
10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, 'I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the Lord's anointed.'

1 Samuel 26:11,23
11 But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go."

23 The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord's anointed.

Incredible patience. From a common shepherd boy to a king.

Question: Are you patient? Or do you want things right away? Do you want your prayers answered now? Do you look for shortcuts? Do you like everything to be quick and easy? God answers our prayers according to his timing. You must pray and then leave it up to God. His timing is always right. And if you don't get what you want, maybe it is for your own good. Even though David was anointed by Samuel to be King, he had to wait a long time. He had to escape being attacked by Saul, he was on the run from Saul's army, he could have thought - what is going on here? But he waited, he trusted, and when the time was right, he was appointed and anointed once more, as King.

God is never in a hurry. Are you? God is never late, he always comes on time. What about you? When God says something, it happens - sometimes immediately, sometimes after hundreds of years. Do you keep your word..whatever you say, you do? God gives his best. Do you?

Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,

Psalm 23 teaches us the following:

- All of us are Sheep in the sight of God. He is our Shepherd.

- Jesus said the sheep knows the voice of their Shepherd. Therefore let us keep our ears tuned to hear God's voice. Hearing messages, Quiet times, meditation, deep studying of your Bible….you will hear God speak to you.

- As we follow the Shepherd, we can be sure he will provide for us, our burdens will be light, he will refresh us, we will be healed, guided, and have purpose. Goodness and kindness will follow us wherever we go. We can succeed when tested, we will always have protection, we can overcome things in this life, be disciplined when we go astray, because the Good Shepherd watches over us.

Conclusion
- God desires to guide us, his sheep, in his ways.
- God seeks to comfort us when we are exhausted.
- God provides security for us in very difficult and dangerous times.
- God allows us to find security in him during these difficult times
- God graciously provides for our needs in abundance, not just enough to barely get by.
- God sees his relationship with us as one of an intimate friend, living together in his house, as part of his family. There goodness and love abide because God is good and God is love.

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1. For home work: Once again, write out and memorize Psalm 23.

2. Memorize Rom 8:28

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

3. Read Psalm 22, 23, and 24. What do you notice about these 3 Psalms?

4. What are the fruits of the Holy Spirit? Do you have all of them? If not, why not?

5. Read 1 Kings chapters 1 and 2.